The Facts

May 5 is Children Day, when families celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of children.it became a national holiday in 1948, but it has been a day of celebration in Japan since ancient times.The fifth day of the fifth month was traditionally called Tango no Sekku and was a festival for boys.Girls have their own festival, called Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), held on the third day of the third month.On Children Day, families with boys fly huge carp shaped streamers (koinobori) outside the house and display dolls of famous warriors and other heroes inside.The carp was chosen because it symbolizes strength and success according to a Chinese legend, a carp swam upstream to become a dragon.